CJ Stander

STANDER did not look near fit against Saracens. Erasmus said afterwards the plan was to take him off shortly after half time, a scenario ruined by injuries to O’Mahony and Tommy O’Donnell.

But he didn’t look fit enough to begin the game, let alone last threequarters of an hour. And Stander on one leg proved an irresistible target for Saracens.

They watched him like hawks, because they saw what the rest of the world did this season: the emergence of a brilliant, bullocking ball-carrier off the back of the Munster scrum.

By next season, expect him to be wearing the Ireland No8 jersey